Take Back the Planet, and Not Just on Earth Day

The following is an excerpt from National Aquarium’s CEO John Racanelli’s piece in today’s Baltimore Sun:

For over 40 years, Earth Day has sent a powerful message: that each of us has both the capacity and the duty to support the environment that sustains us. This is certainly a message that dedicated conservationists can get behind, but what about everyday people with busy lives, kids to raise and jobs to keep? For many, Earth Day has become a day of celebration rather than an urgent call to join a movement.

Earth Day Network, the organization behind Earth Day, cites the impressive statistic that 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Participants plant trees, clean streams and resolve to recycle more. In schools around the world, students spend several weeks learning about the planet and how they can make a difference.

What really matters, though, is what people do the day after Earth Day — and for the 363 days after that. Earth Day was born out of a desire to do something. In 1970, 20 million individuals from all walks of life united to protest the deterioration of the environment, and the results included the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Why can’t Earth Day 2013 be the start of this same kind of sea change?

My colleague Sylvia Earle, a renowned oceanographer whom Time Magazine called a “Hero for the Planet,” has said that the next 10 years may be more important than the last 10,000 in determining the fate of our oceans. She may as well be talking about the fate of humans. It may not be the planet that needs saving so much as we do.

 To read more of John’s call-to-action, click here. 

How are you celebrating Earth Day? Tell us in the comments or join the conversation on Twitter using #EarthDay! 

Celebrating Women in Marine Science

I hope for your help to explore and protect the wild ocean in ways that will restore the health and, in so doing, secure hope for humankind. Health to the ocean means health for us. – Sylvia Earle

In honor of Women’s History Month this March, we’re recognizing just a few of the women who have dedicated their careers to marine sciences and the protection of our precious and fragile blue planet.

Sylvia Earle

Dr. Sylvia Earle examining a specimen during a dive. Photo courtesy of National Geographic.

Sometimes called “Her Deepness” or “The Sturgeon General,” Sylvia Earle is the face and voice of modern oceanography. She is an oceanographer, explorer, author, lecturer, explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and founder of Mission Blue.

Earle has paved the way for women in ocean research, leading more than 60 expeditions worldwide and tying Graham Hawkes’ world record for solo dive depth in a sub and setting the record for women. At 77, Earle shows no signs of slowing down. After receiving a TED prize in 2009, she launched Mission Blue, which advocates for protected marine areas worldwide.

Diana Reiss

Researcher Diana Reiss with some of the National Aquarium’s dolphins. Photo courtesy of the New York Times.

Diana Reiss has focused much of her research as a cognitive psychologist on marine mammals. Her much-applauded research includes the discovery that dolphins have complex cognitive function, including self-recognition in a mirror and communication capabilities.

In addition to her research, Reiss has also become a strong advocate for dolphins worldwide. She has strongly voiced her opposition to the dolphin drives in Taiji, Japan, and has said, “Our science must be applied globally now to gain increased protection for dolphins and whales.”

Cindy Lee Van Dover

Cindy Lee Van Dover. Photo courtesy of the University Museum of Bergen.

A biologist and underwater explorer, Cindy Lee Van Dover has made close to 50 dives in Alvin, a three-person submersible. She was the first woman to pilot Alvin, and together they have discovered new species of mussels, shrimp, tube worms and bacteria that call the deep sea home.

At 53, Van Dover became the first woman to direct the Duke University Marine Laboratory. When asked by the New York Times why we should care to protect the deep-sea environment, Van Dover said, “Most of us will never get to Yellowstone, but we want it to be there. This is a wilderness that we should be protecting.”

Eugenie Clark

Eugenie Clark. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.

Eugenie “The Shark Lady” Clark is an American ichthyologist (the scientific study of fish) with a passion for sharks. She credits a visit to the New York Aquarium at the age of 9 as the spark that inspired a life-long insatiable thirst for knowledge of these majestic marine animals. Clark has been studying the behavior of fishes and sharks for more than 50 years.

Clark has been the recipient of three honorary Doctor of Science degrees and countless awards from institutions such as the National Geographic Society and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. She has even had several species of fish named after her!

No stranger to global expeditions, Clark has represented the Society of Women Geographers in her travels to Ethiopia, Japan and Egypt. At nearly 91 years old, Eugenie Clark remains active in field research utilizing scuba and submarine dives.

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson. Photo courtesy of Biography Channel.

Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist and conservationist from Silver Spring, Maryland, wrote the acclaimed book Silent Spring, which has been credited with launching the modern environmental conservation movement. As a result of its publication, the harmful chemical DDT was banned nationwide and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was born! In addition to Silent Spring, Carson was an aquatic biologist at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries.

A gifted writer, Carson forever changed the American perspective on environmental degradation and pesticide use. She was able to show the public how everything in an ecosystem has an inherent connection.

Is there a female scientist you’ll be celebrating this month? Tell us who in the comments!

Animal Update – December 7

Between our Baltimore and Washington, DC, venues, more than 17,500 animals representing 900 species call the National Aquarium home. There are constant changes, additions, and more going on behind the scenes that our guests may not notice during their visit. We want to share these fun updates with our community so we’re bringing them to you in our weekly Animal Update posts!

Check our blog every Friday to find out what’s going on… here’s what’s new this week!

Loggerhead moves!

As we mentioned in yesterday’s Thoughtful Thursday post, our National Aquarium, Washington DC venue hosts and cares for sea turtle hatchlings so they can safely grow as part of the Loggerhead Head Start Program. This week was a very special week in DC because it was turtle moving week!

Sylvia and Earle, the turtles we’ve had for the past year, traveled to North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on Monday and will be released to the warmer waters soon!

Sylvia and Earle tucked comfortably for their trip to North Carolina!

Although we were sad we had to say farewell to Sylvia and Earle, the team is extremely excited to welcome our new turtle hatchling! The new hatchling arrived on Wednesday and is looking very healthy.

Our new loggerhead hatchling!

As with all of our animals, the young turtle will be in our backup area for at least two weeks for close monitoring before joining its new friends in our exhibit.

Want to name the adorable new hatchling? Don’t forget – You could win the chance to name and meet the new baby in our Amazing Experiences Sweepstakes! 

Be sure to check back every Friday to find out what’s happening!